I went to The Game Awards in IMAX the other night, and to my surprise saw a Call of Duty trailer. It reminded me of something I’d completely forgot; we have a ton of new cool Call of Duty stuff incoming for Modern Warfare II and Warzone 2.0. I’d talk it all up here, but there is so much we ran over and grabbed intel from the Call of Duty blog. Check that out below, and get prepped for an intense second half of Season 1.
First Midseason Update Dropping In With Double XP, Double Weapon XP
Round up the squad or prepare to infiltrate solo — Season 01 Reloaded, the midseason update for Call of Duty®: Warzone™ 2.0 and Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® II, will arrive on December 14 at 10 a.m. PT, following a patch to both games.
To celebrate this new update, Double XP and Double Weapon XP will be active across all platforms during its extended launch weekend, from December 15 at 10 a.m. PT to December 19 at 10 a.m. PT. PlayStation owners will also have Double XP active from December 14 at 10 a.m. PT until the start of the Double XP and Double Weapon XP event across all platforms.
Prior to the launch of Season 01 Reloaded, expect patch notes with details on all technical changes, including major fixes and balance tuning. Raven Software will handle Warzone 2.0 Battle Royale updates, and Infinity Ward will detail changes to Modern Warfare® II and the Warzone 2.0 DMZ Beta. Major Patch Notes updates can be found here.
As for the highlights, Season 01 Reloaded brings action on all fronts. In Warzone 2.0, expect a brand-new tactical experience for DMZ and a limited-time mode built for Modern Warfare® FC fans. Modern Warfare II will challenge trios with the first-ever Raid and will bring chaos with the debut of a reimagined Shipment. And across both games, there will be two new Operators, a new Primary Weapon to unlock, and more.
MODERN WARFARE II OVERVIEW
· This is Atomgrad, the first Special Ops Raid. Grab two of your best squadmates and help Price, Farah, and Gaz uncover the secrets held within a highly fortified enemy facility.
· Shipment incoming! Now on the high seas, get ready to complete the rest of those Camo challenges or cause general chaos in this frenetic favorite for core Multiplayer modes.
Introducing the First Special Ops Raid: Atomgrad
Urzikstan: On the trail of their missing team, Price, Farah and Gaz make a grim discovery in an underground bunker.
Continuing from the events of the Modern Warfare II Campaign, the first Special Ops Raid is something that will take, in the words of the captain himself, “violence and timing.”
Those who successfully complete this Raid will unlock a familiar face as a brand-new Operator to use in Multiplayer and Special Ops, as well as in Warzone 2.0. It will also unlock a harder difficulty Playlist that will test even veteran Operators. You can expect to find plenty of Intel that awards additional cosmetic items, in addition to some intriguing data it provides about the Modern Warfare II universe.
Preparing for the Raid
Accessing a Raid requires a Raid Key, which can be earned through the following method(s):
– Complete a specific Daily Challenge either in Multiplayer or Special Ops.
– Place within the top 20 in any Warzone 2.0 Battle Royale Playlist.
– In DMZ, use the final extract helicopter with at least $30,000 in Cash.
Once a Raid Key is earned, that player — and whatever squadmates they choose to bring in — can access the Raid for a full week.
Although there is only one mandatory requirement for Raid access — the Raid Key — we have a couple of additional tips prior to infiltration:
1. Warm up with Special Ops missions. Get familiar with how agents fight against you, how Special Ops Kits work, and the general strategies for completing a Special Ops run through its shorter missions. Completing them and earning Stars give you some permanent rewards as well, making this practice worth your time.
2. Tier up those Kits. Because Raids are part of Special Ops, it uses the Kit system. Having a high-Tier Kit means accessing those additional passive and active benefits during a Raid, increasing your options for survival and progression through it.
Shipment to Arrive in Multiplayer
One of the most iconic maps in Call of Duty history is reimagined for Modern Warfare II Multiplayer.
Set on a cargo ship taking on water in a storm-ridden part of the Atlantic Ocean, a new Shipment is ready to bring back the chaos that only an ultracompact map can provide. If you’re thinking about working around and off the map’s boundaries, which was possible in previous versions, then you might find yourself at sea…
Expect this map to be in featured Playlists throughout the rest of Season 01. Whether you are ready to grind out the rest of those Orion Camo challenges or just embrace chaos, prepare for Shipment’s arrival with the Season 01 Reloaded update.
Holiday Shipment Available for a Limited Time
Decorated in the holiday spirit across its main deck, Shipment will receive a temporary festive visual overhaul from December 21, 2022 though the new year to January 4, 2023.
Those on the naughty list won’t have to fret over any mythological creatures during this holiday season; the only threats here are your fellow Operators looking to get Camos that shine brighter than tinsel.
WARZONE 2.0 OVERVIEW
· Building 21. Find a way into this restricted [REDACTED] and [REDACTED]!
· Warzone Cup, Mini Royale available for a limited time. Get those #SquadGoals in on a virtual pitch or feel the intensity of a more condensed Battle Royale in these limited-time Playlist offerings.
New Area in DMZ: Building 21
New keys have appeared in Al Mazrah… but where do they lead?
Its location is classified. Its benefactors are unknown. But one thing is for certain about the clandestine biological laboratory codenamed Building 21: only the strongest Operators may survive, let alone access one of the deadliest areas of DMZ. Players will need [REDACTED] to access [REDACTED].
With this great risk comes great reward: high-tier Contraband found throughout the building, especially in safes and special areas that require keycard access. What other secrets await you in this facility?
Limited-Time Playlists: Warzone Cup, Mini Royale
Following the Modern Warfare FC Support a Team Feature and the release of three limited-time Operator Bundles, Season 01 Reloaded will complete the hat trick of football festivities — or soccer special features — with Warzone Cup.
This limited-time mode brings two teams of three Operators to the Al Easima Field, home of one of the league rivals to Al Mazrah’s football club. Here, they will have special ATVs with a pulse ability to push a massive football into the other team’s goal. Collect and toss Shock Sticks to stall your opponents or boost through enemy vehicles to ram them out of the way!
The first team to score five goals, or the team with the most goals at the end of the five-minute time limit, wins the match.
Play this mode as any Operators, as well as the fearless Neymar Jr, Paul Pogba, or Leo Messi — all of whom are available in their limited-time Operator Bundles in the Store.
For more traditional Battle Royale fans, Season 01 Reloaded also sees the return of Mini Royale.
A tactical, condensed variant of a standard Battle Royale, expect fewer players but more compact safe zones in Al Mazrah right from the drop. Perfect for those looking to drop in and win within minutes, or who want to test their abilities in closer quarters, Mini Royales are planned to be included as part of scheduled Playlist updates.
GENERAL OVERVIEW
· Gaz and Klaus are coming to town. Task Force 141’s Gaz and a living legend in Klaus are set to bolster the already-deep Operator roster.
· Make it a silent night. The new Chimera weapon, available during the mid-season, is custom-built for stealth operations.
· Don’t just squad up, group up. New Social Feature allows you to meet fellow community members with similar interests both in and out of game.
Two New Operators: Gaz and Klaus
Kyle “Gaz” Garrick
Price’s right-hand man, Gaz became legend in 2019 when his valor during an attack on Piccadilly Circus grabbed the attention of the formidable SAS Bravo Team captain. He ultimately joined Price’s elite unit, known as Task Force 141.
During the events of the Modern Warfare II Campaign, Gaz was pivotal in saving CIA officer Kate Laswell from Al Qatala. Now he will join Price, Ghost, and Soap, as well as ally Farah — all of whom make up Red Team 141 — to help SpecGru maintain peace around the world.
How to unlock: Complete the Atomgrad Special Ops Raid to unlock Gaz and his “Convoy” Skin. Also available in Store Bundle with “Aquatic” Skin. Those who complete the Raid and purchase the Bundle will unlock the “Grass Ops” Skin as a bonus reward.
Klaus Fisker
A member of Denmark’s Elite Special Forces, Klaus Fisker can almost be considered a living legend among Operators.
Some say his scotopic vision — his natural night vision — was powerful enough to help him navigate a mile in pitch-black darkness before he was old enough to read. Others witnessed his exceptional training record, leading his peers with unbridled optimism through exercises.
But his legacy was cemented one night on the Urzikstan border, where he carried a wounded comrade 18 miles to the nearest base using the lessons taught by his father . . . and with the help of an unusual amount of chocolate that wounded solder carried with him.
How to unlock: Available in the in-game Store via the Klaus Operator Bundle.
New Weapon: Chimera
A new Assault Rifle, part of the Bruen Ops Platform, offers Operators a formidable Primary Weapon for stealth engagements.
“With an integrated suppressor and slow, high-energy subsonic .300 BLK rounds, the Chimera is adept at close-quarters combat. Subsonic Ammo hides kill skulls from the enemy team.”
This weapon is built for keeping Operators completely off the grid. Given the lack of visible tracers, hidden skull indicators and suppressed fire, the Chimera is useful against both enemy Operators and agents, the latter of which are less aware and coordinated when it comes to silent attacks.
As the description suggests, the Chimera’s effective range is shorter than most Assault Rifles, making it a more powerful and silent alternative to the faster-firing M13B from the same platform. So long as the Operator behind it can stay on target, the Chimera can be a versatile force in most short- to mid-range engagements, potentially making it a good complement to a rifle or LMG suited for longer ranges in an Overkill Loadout.
How to unlock: Weapon Challenge or via Store Bundle.
What’s In-Store: Featured Bundles
In addition to the TRACER PACK: Klaus Operator Bundle — featuring the new Operator, two Weapon Blueprints, and other festive items — as well as the three limited-time Operator Bundles for Modern Warfare FC, the Store will be packed with new Bundles, including the Dune Stalker Starter Pack and Year of the Rabbit Bundle.
Pro Pack: Dune Stalker
Available for $9.99 MSRP (or your regional equivalent), the Dune Stalker Starter Pack is a great all-around entry point for building up an arsenal following the midseason update.
It includes two Weapon Blueprints — the “Scarab” SMG based on the M4’s high-capacity, close-range option and the “Duster” Sniper Rifle — along with the “Muddled Up” APC Vehicle Skin, the “Golden Beetle” Weapon Charm, and the “Desert Starter Pack” Animated Emblem.
It also comes with 1,100 Call Of Duty® Points, enough for one season of access to a full Battle Pass.
Year of the Rabbit
Celebrate the Chinese New Year with this Bundle themed on the fourth zodiac symbol of the 12-year cycle.
Highlighting this Bundle is the “Zodiac Rabbit” Operator Skin for Zimo, as well as two Weapon Blueprints: the “Dash of Luck” high-capacity SMG and the “Tokki,” which is based off the new weapon available within this midseason update. It also comes with two Weapon Charms — the “Year of the Rabbit” and “Fortune Punch” — and two Animated Emblems.
New Social Feature: Groups
Whether you’re wanting to make new friends or find squadmates for DMZ and Special Ops missions, the new Groups social feature, launching as part of this update across both Modern Warfare II and Warzone 2.0, can help make those connections.
Accessible via the Social menu, Groups allows you to find or create communities of fellow Call of Duty players — up to 5,000 in a single Group — based on similar interests. These can range from the following labels:
– Call of Duty–based: Preferences on Call of Duty modes, including Battle Royale, DMZ, and Multiplayer, or player experience, such as “Veterans Only” or “New Player Friendly.”
– Vibe-based: Out-of-game interests, such as Entertainment, Gaming, or Sports.
– Community-based: Defining the tone of the group — such as how they play the game (e.g., competitive play or solely for fun) or when they play (e.g., weekend warriors or active daily).
– Other categories: Defining their Group outside of the game, including if the Group is affiliated with a streamer or is part of a Call of Duty League team.
Groups are also defined by their main language and their privacy settings. These, as well as the above labels, are used to help define Groups within the in-game browser for other players to find them.
Once a Group is made, its members can use its dedicated text channels to converse, look up fellow members, and create parties for squadding up within Modern Warfare II or Warzone 2.0.
Essentially, this new feature can expand your network far beyond a friends list and gives you more options for connections within the greater Call of Duty community. Whether you have a ton of friends and colleagues or are a content team or creator who wants to have an in-game hub for connecting with fans, Groups are another way to get a squad going for that next Modern Warfare II or Warzone 2.0 session.
Combat Record Update
Warzone 2.0 Combat Records will come online with Season 01 Reloaded. The statistics present in the Warzone 2.0 Combat Record will only be from the activation date forward, and will not include statistics from Season 01 launch through Season 01 Reloaded (November 16 to December 14).
OUT OF COMBAT OVERVIEW
– Time to Raleigh. The Call of Duty League Major I, which will also host C.O.D.E. Bowl III and the Call of Duty®: Mobile 2022 World Championship Finals, will take place December 15 through 18. Tune in at Twitch.tv/CallofDuty.
– Get Your Glow Up. Get the official Call of Duty League Team Pack and League Pack and rock your team’s colors across Warzone 2.0 and Modern Warfare II.
– Did Someone Say Co-Streaming? Apply to be part of the official CDL Watch Party Program! The first chance host a Watch Party will be during Major I going live Dec. 15–18.
– Get into Call of Duty GearFest! Whether it’s for friends, family, or a self-gift, the Call of Duty Store is stocked for the holiday season.
Call of Duty League Major I, Call of Duty Endowment (C.O.D.E.) Bowl, and More in Raleigh
Four events, one weekend in Raleigh — welcome to Call of Duty League Major I.
Major I will be hosted live by the Call of Duty League at the Raleigh Convention Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, from December 15 through December 18. The event will be in a Pro-Am format, with qualified Call of Duty Challengers teams battling pros and $500,000 of prizing on the line and CDL Points for the Call of Duty League teams. Challengers teams who don’t make the Pro-Am will still be able to battle in the Open and make a name for themselves.
In addition, the Call of Duty: Mobile 2022 World Championship Finals will be hosted at this major, marking the first-ever in-person Call of Duty: Mobile World Championship Finals.
The best teams from North America, Latin America, Europe, India, Japan, China, and Southeast Asia are scheduled to compete head-to-head for the honor of bringing home the 2022 World Championship trophy and cash prize. For those who can’t make it to Raleigh, we will be streaming the entire event in-game with free rewards and on the CODM Esports YouTube channel.
For more information on the World Championship, visit https://www.callofduty.com/mobile/esports.
Plus, the Call of Duty Endowment (C.O.D.E.) Bowl III presented by USAA is back on December 16, 2022, on the official Call of Duty Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook channels!
Watch as US and UK military esports teams battle it out alongside top Call of Duty® streamers to become the C.O.D.E. Bowl III champion.
This year, the Call of Duty Endowment reached an amazing milestone of placing 100,000 veterans back into high-quality jobs after their service. To celebrate th incredible achievement, the C.O.D.E. Bowl will be bigger and better than ever. The trophy won by the U.S. Space Force during C.O.D.E. Bowl II was even sent into space to challenge the other branches to “Come & Get It.”
Don’t miss all these thrilling events under one roof at Call of Duty League Major I, and be sure to grab your Call of Duty League Team Pack and League Pack to support your squad across Warzone 2.0 and Modern Warfare II. Rather Raleigh your community to watch this event together? Applications for the official CDL Watch Party Program are now live; submit an application now before the first chance to host a Watch Party from Dec. 15–18.
Call of Duty GearFest Is Here
The holiday season is fast approaching, and Activision has curated a selection of the hottest collectibles, apparel, and other exclusive items in the Call Of Duty Shop.
In November and through December, players are being treated with new merch drops with plenty of gift options to celebrate the festivities with friends and family.
Among the initial big highlights dropping today are a Black Task Force 141 Jersey T-Shirt, a Cover Art Poster, Otaku Gaming Desk Lamps, and several items designed with some of Call of Duty’s most prized completionist camouflages.
Head to the Call Of Duty Shop now before GearFest is over.
Get MWII Ownership Benefits in Warzone 2.0
Purchase Modern Warfare II to get access to a ton of content across three modes, including the ability to unlock 14 exclusive Operators to use across both games, as well as other ways to quickly level up the available 30 Weapon Platforms and over 50 Weapons through Multiplayer and Special Ops.
Modern Warfare II owners also get Premium XP while playing Warzone 2.0 — at the end of each match, owners will receive additional XP on top of any XP that can be earned by all players.
Plus, as already mentioned, those who own Modern Warfare II will have access to all the content coming as part of the Season 01 Reloaded update, including the first Special Ops Raid Atomgrad.
Those who want even more benefits should consider upgrading to the Vault Edition, which grants four additional Operators — Ghost, Farah, Price, and Soap — as Red Team 141; the FJX Cinder Weapon Vault; an ultimate version of a Weapon Blueprint with 50+ attachments; the Season 01 Battle Pass, along with 50 Battle Token Tier Skips; and more.
Stay frosty.
Stay tuned to Gaming Trend for more Call of Duty news and info!
David Burdette is a gamer/writer/content creator from TN and Lead Editor for Gaming Trend. He loves Playstation, Star Wars, Marvel, and many other fandoms. He also plays way too much Call Of Duty. You can chat with him on Twitter @SplitEnd89.
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